PSU-trained automotive student ranks 13th at WorldSkills

July 17, 2013 12:00AM

Kieron Kohlman, the Wisconsin automotive technology student trained by Pittsburg State University faculty, received a Medallion of Excellence and ranked 13th in the world at the WorldSkills International competition in Germany earlier this month.

Kohlman, an automotive engineering major at Ferris State University, was coached by PSU automotive technology instructor Mike Elder, who recently succeeded PSU’s Ron Downing as the WorldSkills Automotive Technology Expert. In that position, Elder helped to develop and judge workstations in the Automotive Technology area of the competition.

Kohlman trained this summer at the Kansas Technology Center with Elder, Downing and assistant professor Scott Norman, who is the U.S. Technical Delegate for WorldSkills.

“We are very proud of the way Kieron competed at WorldSkills,” Elder said. “He represented the United States well, and he represented us very well. I was proud to be his coach through this journey.”

Approximately 1,000 competitors from 52 countries and regions competed at the WorldSkills International competition. The 20-member U.S. team earned one silver medal and two Medallions of Excellence.

In November 2012, Kohlman earned the highest score of an U.S. competitor and received the “Best in Nation” trophy at the WorldSkills Americas contest in Brazil.